Panel fastening element



June 20, 1944.

A. c. OLSEN PANEL FASTENING ELEMENT Filed April 13, 1943 INVENTOR. 44 055: C. 04 SEA.

ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE 2,352,002 PANEL FASTENING ELEMENT Anders 0. Olsen, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application April is, 1943, Serial No. 482,854 7 Claims. (0124-81) This invention relates to building structures and particularly to interior partition, wall and ceiling constructions.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with partition and like structures wherein paneling-such as paneling composed of plasterboard known as gypsum lath, or of relatively soft and porous fiberboard known as insulating lathis used as a base for the application of the plaster to form a partition or ceiling.

In order that the erection of partitions embodying such panel lathing be more convenient and economical, and the finished partitions be more durable in service, the present invention contemplates the provision of a novel connection between the panel lathing which meet at a'nangle, such as at the corners of a room between intersecting walls or partitions; More particularly, it is an object of the invention toprov'ide a novel clip or securing element which is adapted to engage and interconnect the adjacent mar- :gins of the paneling or lathing elements meeting at such corners, and to firmly but resiliently maintain the proper angular position between the panels at the meeting corner, withoutrequiring the use of other reinforcement.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the detailed description which is to follow and from the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an interior corner of a room, utilizing the corner fastening means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal cross-section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of a corner fastening element embodying the present invention.

The view in Fig. l of the drawing shows the corner of an interior construction in which the plastering lath panels in and II respectively of partitions A and B meet at right angles. In the type of partition construction herein selected for illustration purposes, the panels I!) and II, along with the other panels (not shown) comprising the plastering bases, are each considerably longer than its width and of a length approximately equal to the height of the partition.

In order to maintain the proper angular position between the panels l3 and H at the meeting corner, and firmly to retain them in such position, the adjacent edges of these panels are interconnected by means of the novel corner clip designated generally by the numeral 20. This clip preferably is made of a single piece of hard drawn wire, of say 11 to 14 gauge, which is bent to form a pair of open loops 2| and 22 extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another similar pair of open loops 23 and Cal 24 extending in substantially parallel spaced planes, at right angles to the planes of the firstnamed pair.

As will be noted, the leg 3| of the outer loop 2| terminates inwardly of the corresponding end of the leg 25 and joins the leg 32 of the inner loop 24 at the right angular bend 33. Likewise, the leg29 of loop 24 terminates inwardly of the corresponding end of leg 32 and joins leg 23 of the inner loop 22 at'the'right angular bend 33. The right angular bend 21 where the leg 25 of outer loop 2| joins the leg 26 of outer loop 23 lies at a point offset outwardly with respect to the bends and 33.

The leg 34 is somewhat shorter than the other leg 28 of the loops 22; and similarly, the leg 35 is somewhat shorter than the leg 26 of loop 23. The leg 34 has a sharpened prong end 36 and the leg 35 has a similar pronged end 31. The prongedend'36 extends outwardly slightly from the plane of the loop 22 toward the plane of the l loop 2| and the pronged end 31 extends inwardly slightly from the plane of the loop 23 toward the plane of the inner loop 24.

The application of the clips 20 for the purpose of interconnecting the adjacent edges of the panels l0 and II meeting at a corner, and, thereby, disp'ensing'with the need for using corner studs, or other corner supporting members, is clearly shown in Fig. 1. As shown, each of the clips is first engaged with the panel [0 of partition A by sliding the clip laterally over the edge of the panel until the leg 25 of the outer loop 2| butts up against this edge, and the opposite panel surfaces 40 and M are firmly gripped or embraced :between the spaced loops 23 and 24 for the full lengthwise extent of the loops. In thus applying the clips individually, a slight amount of pressure is required to deflect or spring the spaced loops 23 and 24 of each clip out of their normal planes sufficiently to embrace the margins of the opposite panel surfaces 40 and 4!. The flexing of the resilient legs of the loops from their normal substantially unfiexed position to the position where the loops 23 and 24 bear upon the opposite panel surfaces, serves firmly to grip the panel. Each of the clips are separately applied in this manner and are suitably spaced approximately l6" apart along the vertical edge of the panel l0.

When the required number of clips 20 have thus been afiixed along the edge of panel ID, the panel ll of the partition B is moved into right angular position adjacent the panel II), the edge of the panel H being forcibly inserted between the extended spaced loops 2| and 22 of each of the clips 20, and the margins of the panel surfaces 42 and 43 being firmly embraced by the loops bearing thereagainst.

While the gripping pressure exerted by the spaced loops of each clip against the opposite faces of the meeting panels is usually suflicient alone to maintain the clip in fixed engagement vide positive means for resisting outward displacement or slippage of the clips. As shown in Fig. 2, the pronged end 3! of the outer loop 23 is embedded in the surface 40 of panel IB' and the pronged end 36 of the inner loop 22' is likewise embedded in the inner surface 43 of panel I l. The extent to which these prongs pierce the panel surfaces is somewhat exaggerated in the drawing for purposes of illustration, itbeing understood that it is only necessary for the prongs to slightly rupture the panel surfaces in order to offer sufiicient resistance to any relative movement between the clips and the panels which would tend to release the firm, fixed engagement therebetween.

It is thus apparent that the clips of the present invention not only serve adequately to interconnect the adjacent anels meeting at a corner and to provide firm positioning of the panels along'the vertical joint, but also maintain the proper angular position between the panels without requiring the use of additional supporting means. The resiliency of the clips, as previously indicated, permits a considerable range of flexure adequate to grip and interconnect panels ranging from.%" to in thickness, where the distance between the spaced loops of each pair is approximately By forming the clips so that the distance between the spaced loops is approximately they may be used for connecting panels of. to 1" thickness, as for example, in the case of insulation lath. The rapidity and ease with which corner panels may be engaged and interconnected with these clips speeds up the erection of the partition or wall and, thereby, produces a definite saving in time and labor.

After the plastering bases have been properly installed, the partitions are finished by applying desired thicknesses of plaster to both sides of the plastering bases.

The clips rigidify the partition structure both vertically and horizontally by reason of their gripping action on the margins of the panels along the vertical joint. At the same time, the clips serve automatically to space one panel from the intersecting panel a distance equal to the thickness of the material from which the .clips are made, thereby permitting the plaster to key through this space. Moreover, since the clips protrude beyond the panel surfaces, they thereby provide an enhanced key effect for the plaster coating.

While the clips embodying the present invention have been described in connection with studless partitions employing panels each extending for the full height of the partition, it i also within the purview of the invention to with the panels, the pronged ends 36 and 31 proand a ceiling structure, when such partitions are erected on studs, channels or other vertical supp rts.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form-a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes of the first-named pair, each of said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels.

2. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent 'to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes of the first-named air, each 'of' said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels, one of the loops of said spaced pairs being provided with means for engaging a surface of the panel clampingly embraced therebetween.

3. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes of the first-named pair, each of said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels, one of the loops of each said spaced pairs being provided with means for engaging a surface of the panel clampingly embraced therebetween.

4. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planesand another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes of the first-named pair, each of said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels, one of the loops of each said spaced pairs terminating in a pronged end adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the panel gripped between each of said pairs of loops.

5. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in. Substantially parallel spaced planes at right along the joint between the panels, one of the loops of each said spaced pairs terminating in a pronged end adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the panel gripped between each of said pairs of loops, each prong extending in a direction toward the other loop of said pair.

6. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes-of the first-named pair, each of said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels, one leg of a loop of one pair being connected at right angles to one leg of a loop of the other pair.

'7. As an article of manufacture, a clip for use in connecting the edges of a pair of plastering lath panels which are in juxtaposition to one another in planes extending at right angles to one another, said clip comprising a single piece of resilient wire bent to form a pair of open loops extending substantially in parallel spaced planes and another pair of open loops extending in substantially parallel spaced planes at right angles to the planes of the first-named pair, each of said pairs of spaced loops being formed to grip therebetween the margins of one of the panels along the joint between the panels, one leg of a loop of one pair being connected at right angles to one leg of a loop of the other pair, the outer loop ofsaid first-named pair and the inner loop of said latter-named pair each terminating in a pronged end adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the panel gripped between each pair of inner and outer loops.

ANDERS C. OLSEN. 

